“Health care or all is not only a needed service for our community but is also a human right and a necessity.     I hear many stories in our community of families having to choose between going to the doctor or paying       their rent. We applaud our Cook County Commissioners for their vote and hope that this is a vote in long       term health care access for the state and our country”

                                                                                                    - Maria Barrragan, Health Promoter with BPNC.

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On September 14, as a result of a two-year organizing effort by a 40 member, county-wide health care coalition - Healthy Communities Cook County (HC3), including Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, the Cook County board​ ​voted unanimously to expand access to health care to 40,000 ​uninsured ​Cook County residents. This victory makes Cook County a national leader in addressing health equity.

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The new program will include:

 

           -​ Comprehensive preventive primary, specialty, emergency and hospital care at an affordable cost

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           - A health network membership card ​used as a tool to share patient's medical information across                        network providers

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           - An assigned "medical home" where patients will see the same doctor and provider on a regular basis

 

Read: Chicago Sun-Times: "Cook County launches new program for the uninsured"